When the Dallas Mavericks signed Daniel Gafford to a 3 year/$54 million contract extension yesterday, they may have actually helped the Detroit Pistons and their decision with Jalen Duren’s extension this summer.
The Pistons’ 21-year-old center is eligible for an extension and whether to give him one (and how much) is one of the biggest decisions Detroit has to make this offseason.
Duren had an up and down season that started slowly but finished strong, as he played big, impact minutes in the playoffs. He was far from perfect, but when you consider his age, and the strides he’s made thus far, there is every reason to believe Duren will keep getting better.
There’s also the issue that the Pistons don’t have many other viable options, as the center market is limited and the free agents that are out there are likely to return to their current teams.
Duren did show flashes of passing and playmaking off the bounce, so hopefully there is more to his offensive game than just dunking next season. He also needs to continue to improve defensively, where he did make some strides this season, especially around the rim.
But giving Duren a lucrative long-term deal is still a risk, as right now he is just a rim running dunker who grabs boards and not much else, an important player but not one you can dedicate too much of your cap towards.
Hopefully Daniel Gafford’s new deal will set a mark for the Pistons when it comes to Duren.
Jalen Duren extension and Daniel Gafford
I am sure Jalen Duren’s team will say Gafford’s new deal, which has an average annual salary of $18 million but ramps up from $14 million according to reports, has nothing to do with Duren, but the Pistons will try to use it as a ceiling for what they want to pay their young center.
Duren’s agent will likely point to Nic Claxton and say, “hey, my guy is better than him, so he needs to be paid more,” while the Pistons will point to Gafford and say that he is the comparison to make when it comes to salary.
Gafford and Duren are similar players, as they have obvious limitations and strengths. Both are strong around the rim offensively and can grab rebounds. Gafford is the better rim protector while Duren is more versatile offensively with his ability to pass and take the ball to the hoop off the dribble.
But there isn’t much between them, so a deal in that range sounds fair for both Duren and the Pistons. A starting salary in the $15-18 million range would protect the Pistons somewhat and also give Duren a chance to get an even bigger deal when he is 24 or 25 years old, still just entering his prime.